Combined pad and partition for containers



May2l, 1968 F. 3. GRANT COMBINED PAD AND PARTITION FOR CONTAINERS Filed Aug. 1.8, 1967 INVENTOR. FRED G. GRANT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,384,289 COMBINED PAD AND PARTITION FOR CONTAINERS Fred G. Grant, Gorham, Maine, assignor to Weycrhaeuser Company, Tacoma, Wash, a corporation of Washington Filed Aug. 18, 1967, Ser. No. 661,602 4 Claims. (Cl. 229-) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE Containers for produce are usually divided vertically by pads and horizon-tally by partitions. A combined pad and partition formed from a one piece blank which is scored longitudinally to divide it into two outer sections forming the pad member and a central fold back section forming the longitudinal partition member. Each section of a longitudinal partition member is cut to form a transverse partition member which is folded outwardly from the longitudinal partition member.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the invention The field of this invention is articles for dividing containers into a number of compartments.

Description of the prior art Shanahan, U.S. Patent No. 2,796,213 discloses an integral partition divider construction in which the transverse partitions are formed from out out sections of the base or pad element and the longitudinal partitions are formed from side elements hinged to the base pad and folded back over the base pad to hinge and lock with the transverse partitions. In this construction the pad or base member 11 is weakened by the transverse partition cut outs and there are a number of apertures in the pad which reduce the strength of the pad and the cushioning effect of the pad.

Kuchenbecker, U.S. Patent No. 2,958,452 is directed to a container divider formed from a unitary blank. This patent does not provide a full pad because the transverse partitions extend beyond the side edges of the pad 11. This divider is only useful in a single layer box requiring longitudinal and transverse partitions.

Johnson, US. Patent No. 3,092,300 is directed to a container divider having a pad section formed by members 17 and 19 and longitudinal sections formed by members 10, 13 and 14. The device does not provide for transverse partitions.

Barrett et al., US. Patent No. 3,236,433 discloses a blank from which a unitary pad and partition may be assembled. FIGURE 2 indicates that excess board is required to provide corner and side supports. The transverse partitions are formed from the side supports.

Harrison, US. Patent No. 3,301,460 described a unitary sheet which forms transverse and longitudinal partitions in a container. The transverse partitions only extend one-half of the depth of the container. There is no pad. This is only useful in dividing the container into sections if the product extends the entire depth of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Containers for produce are usually divided vertically by pads and horizontally by partitions. A combined pad and partition formed from a one piece blank which is scored longitudinally to divide it into two outer sections forming the pad member and a central fold back section forming the longitudinal partition member. Each section of a longitudinal partition member is cut to form a trans- 3,384,289 Patented May 21, 1968 "ice verse partition member which is folded outwardly from the longitudinal partition member.

This provides a unitary pad and partition in which a minimum of board is used. It obviates the need for excessive inventory and separate pad members and separate partition members. One simple convenient blank is useful for both the pad and partition and replaces three separate elements. 'It provides a full pad and a full partition.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a top plan view of the blank for the preferred construction of pad and partition.

FIGURE 2 is an isometric view of the partition and pad being assembled.

FIGURE 3 is an isometric view of the pad and partition assembled.

FIGURE 4 is an isometric view of the pad and partition of FIGURE 3 inside a container.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A blank 10 is divided by longitudinal score lines 11, '12 and 13 into a first pad section 14, longitudinal partition sections 15 and 16 and a second pad section 17. Longitudinal partition 15 is divided into a partition section 18-, a transverse partition section 19 and a second partition section 20 by a longitudinal slit 21, preferably aligned with score line 12, a transverse slit 22 which is parallel to the side edge of the blank and a longitudinal slot 23, preferably aligned with score line 111. If the slot 23 is inwardly of score line 11 then it need be only a slit. The partition member 19 is rotatable from the plane of the partition section 15 around score line 30.

Partition section 16 is divided into a partition member 24, a transverse partition 25, and a partition section 26 by a slit 27, preferably aligned with score line 12, a transverse slit 28 which is parallel to and inwardly of the side wall of the blank and a slot 29 preferably aligned with score line 13. The transverse partition 25 may be rotated from the plane of the member 16 around score line 31.

'As may be seen in FIGURE 1, the score lines 36 and 3 1 are offset from each other so that the longitudinal partition sections 18 and 24 are attached along score line 12 as shown in 3 2. The distance between score line 30 and slit 22 is substantially equal to the width of the first pad section 14, the distance between the edge of the blank and longitudinal score line 11. The distance between score line 31 and slit 28 is substantially equal to the width of pad section 17, the distance between the edge of the blank and score line 13.

The formation of the blank is shown in FIGURES 2 and 3. The partition members 15 and 16 are bent upwardly around score lines 11, 12 and 13 until their inner faces are contiguous. Transverse partition members 19 and 2 5 are bent outwardly around score lines 30 and 31, respectively, until they are substantially normal to the center partition formed by members -15 and 16. The lower edges of partition members 19 and 25 rest on the pad members 14 and 17 As can be seen in FIGURE 3 the pad and partition member thus formed have a full pad and full longitudinal and transverse partitions.

The pad and partition member may be placed in a container such as the container 40 shown in FIGURE 4. This is a standard container having side walls and upper and lower flaps which form the upper and lower walls of the container. In the single height container shown the pad formed by members 14 and 17 forms a double strength lower wall and the partition members divide the container into four sections. In a double or triple height container the pad member would act as a vertical divider in the container.

It is preferred that longitudinal score lines 11, v12 and '13 be transverse the corrugations to provide greater stacking strength in the partitions.

What is claimed is:

1. A blank for a pad and partition member having first, second and third score lines substantially parallel to each other dividing said blank into :a first pad panel, a first partition panel, a second partition panel and a second pad panel,

a fourth score line extending between said first and second score lines and being substantially normal thereto,

a fifth score line extending between said second and third score lines and being substantially normal thereto,

said fourth and fifth score lines being offset from each other so that there is an attachment between said first and second partition panels along said second score line between said fourth and fifth score lines,

a first slit extending between said first and second score lines and being substantially normal thereto, said slit being on the side of said fourth score line opposite said offset and being spaced from said first score line a distance substantially equal to the width of said first pad panel,

a second slit extending between said second and third score lines and being on the side of said fifth score line Opposite said offset and being spaced from said fifth score line a distance substantially equal to the width of said second pad panel,

third and fourth slits extending between the respective ends of said fourth score line and first slit, and forming with said fourth score line and first slit a first transverse partition panel,

fifth and sixth slits extending between the respective ends of said fifth score line and said second slit and forming with said fifth score line and said second slit a second transverse partition panel.

2. The blank of claim 1 in which said third and fifth slits are aligned with said second score line,

said fourth slit is aligned with said first score line and said sixth slit is aligned with said third score line.

4 3. The blank of claim 1 in Which said blank is :a

corrugated board and said first, second and third score lines extend transversely of said corrugations.

4. A pad and partition member comprising a first pad section,

a first partition section extending normally to said first pad section and being hingedly connected thereto,

a second partition section hingedly connected to the edge of said first partition section opposite said pad section and being contiguous with said first partition section,

a second pad section hingedly connected to the edge of said second partition section opposite its connection with the first partition section, said second pad section being in alignment with said first pad section,

a first transverse partition section hingedly attached to said first partition section extending normally thereto, the outer edge of said first transverse partition section being substantially in alignment with the outer edge of said first pad section.

said first partition section having an aperture adjacent its hinged connection with said first transverse partition section, said aperture being equal in size to said first transverse partition section,

a second transverse partition section hingedly attached to said second partition and extending substantially normal thereto, said second transverse partition having an outer edge substantially in alignment with the outer edge of said second pad section,

said second partition having an aperture adjacent its hinged connection with the second transverse partition, said aperture being of a size equal to said second transverse partition.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,593,092 4/1952 Bergstein 22915 X 3,014,632 12/1961 Kuchenbecker 229-42 X 3,327,919 6/1967 Kim 22942 X DAVID M. BOCKENEK, Primary Examiner.

R. PESHOCK, Assistant Examiner. 

